Loading and unloading of work in machine tools



:s sheets-sheet 1 M. F. CAMPBELL Filed July l5, 1938 March 4, 1941.

LOADING AND NLOADING 0F WORK IN MACHINE TOOLS 0J M 4,1m#HWWMHMNMNNWWM @MWMWMWNMMWWW -M E lillll -Ii 0 D vn. Q0 H INVENTOR. MANus F. CAMPBELL 'l0 Mm 930ML ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1941. M F CAMPBELL 2,233,993

LOADING AND UNLOADING OF WORK IN MACHINE TOOLS Filed July 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM, BY MANus F. CAMPBEVLL ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1941. M. F. CAMPBELL LOADING AND UNLOADING 0F WORK IN MACHINE TOOLS Filed July l5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTR4 MNUS F. CAMPBELL (U 'MMX 2:3

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 LOADING AND UNLOADING OF VVDRK IN BIACHIN'E TOOLS Manus F. Campbell, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The R.. K. Le Blond Machine Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1938, Serial No. 219,030

21 Claims.

This invention pertains to loading and unloading of work in machine tools, more particularly to the simultaneous loading and unloading of a plurality of Work pieces in multiple spindle orbital 5 lathes of a character shown in Patents 1,934,530; 1,993,994; 1,993,995; 2,089,421; and 2,138,964. In lathes of this type it has always been a dicult task to load and unload the work with rapidity and ease commensurate with the high production obtainable from such machines. It has been found in the past that in loading or unloading one spindle at a time of these machines, either manually or with a crane, that it took longer to load and unload the machine than to perform the actual cutting operations on the work pieces. As a result, the machine was standing idle a large percentage of the time when it might otherwise be producing finished work pieces, thus greatly cutting down the emciency of the machine.

I-Ieretofore, it had been considered impractical to attempt to simultaneously load or unload all of the spindles simultaneously because of the diiculties created by the simultaneous insertion of crankshafts in the spindle chucks and steady rests 25 which require considerable nicety of handling on the part of the operator to even insert or remove a single crankshaft from a single spindle. When this operation was to be undertaken on a plurality of Work spindles simultaneously it was considered wholly impractical from the standpoint of properly guiding all of the Work pieces simultaneously into or out of the chucks and steady rests of the various spindles. Two or more crankshafts could not be inserted or removed r manually by one man because two or more crankshafts of a character usually machined in such lathes weigh more than a single person could safely handle. This problem is especially diicult in such crankshaft lathes which employ chucking devices which engage finished locating areas on the rough Webs and bearings of crankshafts, such for example as are shown in patents Re. 19,730 and 2,030,142 wherein the crankshaft must be accurately inserted and properly seated before clamping these chucks on the work. Care must be taken to prevent cooking and jamming the work in these chucks when inserting or removing it therefrom,

With these lformer dillicultiesl clearly in mind, I have conceived the idea of providing a means, in connection with a loading and unloading device for a multiple spindle lathe, for holding a plurality of work pieces in a predetermined relationship to each other and to the work spindles into which they are to be loaded or unloaded.

unloading `device for a multiple spindle crankshaft lathe, a carrier for supporting and holding a plurality of crankshafts in a predeterminedposition relative to each other while simultaneously inserting and removing them from the work spindlesI of said lathe,

Still another object is to provide a loading and unloading device for simultaneously loading and unloading work in a plurality of work spindles of a multiple spindle machine tool in which no time is required from the productive time of the machine to charge the work in and remove it from said device.

Still another object is to provide a loadingand unloading device with a frame for holding a plurality of work pieces in a predetermined relationship to each other and a multiple spindle machine associated therewith in which is incorporated a combined manipulating and control means for actuating said device.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detaileddescription of the drawings. in which:

Figure I is a front elevation of a multiple spindle crankshaft lathe showing the novel loading and unloading device associated therewith.

Figure II is a right hand end elevation of the lathe shown in Figure I particularly showing the position of one of the loading and unloadingdevices when placing work on or removing it from said devices.

Figure III is an'enlarged View ofy the control handle for actuating the loading and unloading device.

CaSe.

For purposes of an exemplary disclosure the novel loading and unloading device is shown aplplied to a two-spindle orbital lathe of a character shown in the above mentionedy patents which has the base l upon which are mounted the housings 2 and 3 in which are journaled the work spindles 4 and 5.

The respective pot chucks 6 and 1 of a character shownin the above mentioned chuck patents are. mounted on said spindles.

A steady rest unit 8 of a character I A, y t 2,233,993

` solenoid shown'in'Patent 2,085,357 is also mounted on the base I and connected to the upper ends of nected to the work supporting andpositioning;

frames 22 `and 23. Each of these frames comprises ho-rizontal tubular members 24 and 25` which are fixed to the vertical tubular members 26 and 21. work engaging hooks 28, 29, 35 and 3l adapted to engage the crank pins 32 and 33 of the crankshafts C so as to hold them in a predetermined position relative to each other and relative to the chucks 6 and 1 when bothv of said crankshaftsvare being simultaneously placed into or removed from said chucks.

Fluid pressure for actuating the cylinders I9 i. and-2U is derived from the usual uid pressure pump 34 and is controlled by the usual solenoid operated valves (not shown) for reciprocating the pistons I8 of these cylinders to eiect raising and lowering of the frames 22 and 23. These valves 'are controlled 'electrically through appropriate relays by meansY of the three-position switch mechanism vprovided in the handle grip 35 on the vertical member 25. This arrangement is shown in detail in Figure III,.and comprises slidingly mounting the handle grip 35 for vertical movement on the member 26. In the member 26 are mounted the up toggle switch 3F andthe down toggle switch 31 and. the; stop positioning detent 38 which l enters the notch 39 formed in the bore of the handle grip 35 when it is moved so neither switch is operated. When the handle grip is moved upwardly switch 36 is operated by the engagement of the projection 40 within the projection 4I of the switchi 36 to energize the solenoid valve which in turn directs the uid pressure from the pump 34 to actuate the piston I8 downwardly to raise the work supporting andpositioning frame. Similarlyywhen the handle grip 35 is moved downwardly 'so its projection 42 engages the projection 43 of the switch 31 the piston" I8 will be moved upwardly to lower said frame. Electrical wiring attached to the binding `posts 44Y of the switches passes 'upwardly through the tubular member 26 and through the tubular member 24 to a midway pointI where the cable I is attached to said latter member. These wires 44a, then pass upwardly along side of the lifting cable I5 and over the pulley I4, riding on top of` said cable, to a tensioning reel 45 appropriately mounted above said device, the reel in turn being electrically connected to said solenoid valve through the necessary relaysv Another similar handle grip 46 without any switches is provided on the vertical member 21 to facilitate handling of the frame withboth hands.

In the operation of this arrangement, one of the cranes is used for removing the nished work pieces while the other is used for loading rough work pieces, into the .lathe and in this respect it is similar to the ,loading and unloading devices shown in Patent 2,069,107 and copenling application Serial No. 135,740 filed April 8, .1937. Assume thatthe Icrankshafts C in the y Y scribed the davit On these vertical members lare fixed chucking devices 6 and 1, Figure I, have just been machined and the chucks and steady rests unclamped; the davit II is then swung into the position shown with the frame 22 in lowered position. The handle grip 35 is then moved upwardly causing the frame to raise and to simultaneously engage the crankshafts as shown and continuing its upward travel to raise the crankshafts out of the chucks. The davit II is then swung outwardly from the machine to a position as shown for the davit I2. While these crankshafts were being machined, other finished shafts lwere removed from the frame 22 and rough shafts were loaded on the frame 23. After removal of the machined crankshafts as de- I2 and its frame while in raised position is immediately swung into position with the chucks 6 and 1. Since the crankshafts are positioned on the frame in a definite position relative to each other and the work spindles yand are automatically positioned in correct circumferential or indexed position when placed on the frame, when the frame is lowered by moving the handle grip 35 downward, both crankshafts will be accurately guided simultaneously into the chucking devices of both spindles without the danger of getting them caught or jammed against the locating areas of the chucks and steady rests. This definite indexed or circumferential positioning of the crankshafts with each other and with the work spindles and chucks may be effected by stopping the work spindles in the predetermined indexed position by the usual method of manually jogging them to the required position, but mayl be preferably stopped automatically in such predetermined position by apparatus, fcr example, of a character shown in application Serial Number 209.026, filed May 20, 1938. The spindle driving arrangement shown diagrammaticallfy in Figures IV and V for the work spindles 4 and 5 consists of gears 41 and 48 mounted on these spindles which are driven through suitable idler gears 49 by the pinions 50 fixed on the drive shaft 5|. The drive shaft 5I is driven by the main drive electric motor 52 which has a pulley 53 mounted on its motor shaft 54 connected -by suitable belts 55 to the driving pulley 55 mounted on the pulley shaft 51 upon which shaft is xed the driving pinion 58 which drives the gear 5S Xed on the drive shaft 5I whereby the motor 52 may rotate spindles I and 5. Also connected to the shaft 54 is the hydraulic braking motor 50 which may be of the usual gear pump or pistonpump type.

' The supply of uid pressure for the hydraulic control system may be derived from the usual hydraulic uid pressure pump 5I driven'V by an electric motor 52 which draws fluid through the suction line 63 from the fluid reservoir 54 and delivers fluid under pressure through the pressure. line 55. Drainage from a relief valve in the pump 5I for maintaining pressure in the line E35 is exhausted throughv the line 65 into the drain line 61 which returns iiuid tol thefreservoir 6 4."

In the operation of the lathe when the main drive motor 52 is operating driving the work spindles 4 and 5 during the cutting operation, the hydraulic braking motor 59 is. also being driven by the motor shaft 54. Under these conditions fluid is discharged from the exhaust port 68 ofthe braking motor 5I) through the lines 69 and 15, passes freely through the relief valve 1I, through the line 12, the solenoid operated control valve 73, which is normally spring set in neutral position at this time, intothe line i4, and then through the line i5 back to the intake port 16 of the braking Ymotor @il to form a closed circuit for free circulation of iluid at large volume when the electric motor 52 is running at full speed offering no `resistance to the rotation of the braking motor Si). Fluid from this closed circuit may not escape through the lines 'Vl and 'I8 because of the check valve 'i9 which 'only permits flow of fluid from the line 8!) to the line 18. Normay 'fluid escape through the line V6I from line 11 since this latter line is at all times closed oi at the control valve 82 and serves only to supply fluid pressure for opening the valve 82 to connect line 83 tothe `drain line '61, which connection is normally cut oi by the spring set arrangement in the valve when the pressure drops in the line 8i High pressure is maintained in the closed circulating circuit by pressure received from the pressure `line 'E5 which passes through the speed control valve 8f3 which in turn discharges the high pressure fluid into the line 85 connected to said circuit at a deiinite relatively small volurne for at all times maintaining the high pressure in the circuit and to make up for any leakage from said circuit. This discharge from the valve 84 is also utilized to rotate the hydraulic braking motor 68 at a deiinite slow speed for driving the electric motor 52 and the lathe spindles 4 and 5 at slow speed preparatory to stopping lsaid spindles or when jogging the spindles as will be described. The relief valve li,

- while at all times allows free iiow between the lines i9 and l2, is so set at a pressure higher than that of `the relief valve in the pump El, cr in other words than the pressure in the closed circuit, that iiuid does not escape under these conditions through the by-pass line 85, line 89, the check valve 8l and into the drain line 6l.

Immediately upon disconnecting the electrical .power from the motor 52 the otherwise inoperative limit switch LSI associated with the work spindle 4 becomes eiective through the usual relays and contactors (not shown) and is engaged by a -dog 88 on the spindle to cause the solenoid B of the control valve 13 to be energized, operating the valve 713 so as to close o the line ifi and to connect line 'l2 to line 83. This causes the pressure to drop to substantially zero in the lines l5, Tl, 7B, and 8l because the intake volume through the port 1S of the braking motor 60, which is being driven at a high rate of speed by the momentum `of the electric motor 52 and the associated driving transmission and work spindle, is far in excess of that which can be supplied by the valve 84 lthrough the line S5. Dropping the pressure in the line 8l causes the valve 82 to operate by its spring to close off the line 83 thus preventing fluid from passing through the line l2. Extremely high pressure is momentarily built up in lines il@ and 'it until the momentum in the electric motor and spindle transmission is absorbed by bypassing fluid through the high pressure relief valve 1I into theline B. The discharge through the line 86 passes through the line 89, through the check valve i9, and vinto the line 33 due to the suction to decelerate in bypassing fluid through the valve 'Il until it .has slowed down to a point where the volume take into the intake port 'I6 is equal to that being supplied through the line 8E from the valve 8E. The valve 1l is so set as to eilect the deceleration about a half revolution of the work spindle. After the hydraulic braking motor Gil has decelerated to the abc-ve point'pressure again builds up in the lines l5, "ll, 78, and 8i and the motor 60 is driven at a relatively slow speed for similarly rotating the work spindle by fluid from the line 85. Building up pressure in the line 3l again opens the Valve 82 connecting line 83 to the drain line 61, allowing free iiow of fluid through line 'l2 thus eliminating all back .pressure at the exhaust port 68 of the hydraulic braking motor 60 which would otherwise hinder the operation of said motor 60 at the predetermined slow speed.

As soon as the limit switch LSI is operated the otherwise inoperative limit switch L52 is then rendered in a condition to be effective when operated. The limit switch LSZ is operated when the dog S9 carried on the spindle 4 engages it as it is rotated at the predetermined slow speed by the hydraulic braking moto;1 6%. Operation of the limit switch LSZ, through appropriate relays and contactors (not shown), causes the solenoid A of the control valve 713 to be operated which closes off the line 'I2 and connects the line TQ to the line 83. Flow through line T2 is thus stopped causing back pressure to substantially instantly build up in lines 69 and 'lll to stop rotation` of the hydraulic braking motor, and thus work spindle center drive ring gears in a predetermined position depending on the setting of the dog 89 on the spindle, from its slow rotating speed since the relief valve 'H is set at a greater pressure than that supplied to the port i6 of the motor 60 by the line 85. Substantially no fluid would escape through the line 86 from the Valve il under these conditions, thus providing very accurate stopping of the spindles and the chuck in accurate predetermined indexed position. The valve 82 under these conditions will merely float on the line 83 since the control pressure in the line 3l will be determined by spring pressure setting of the valve 31.

When the main drive electric motor .is again supplied with current solenoid A is de-energized and the valve 'i3 allowed to come to its spring set neutral position and both limit switches LS! and LSZ are rendered ineiiective by the usual electrical relays and contactors (not shown) so that the machine is then ready for repeating the above cycle of operation.

When it is desired to jog the work spindles l and 5 it is only necessary to provide suitable electrical means for cutting out the limit switches LSI and LSZ and to alternately energize one of the other of the solenoids A and B of the control valve 13. When the solenoid B is energized the work spindles rotate at a pre determined slow speed and when solenoid A is energized the center-drive gears are substantially instantly stopped as described above.

Thus great saving is effected in the loading and unloading time required in the operation of the lathe in that both spindles may be loaded and unloaded simultaneously. Also with this arrangement no productive time from the machine is consumed in placing the work on and removing it from said loading and unloading devices.v Furthermore, great skill upon the part of the operator to carefully guide the crankshafts into and out of the work spindles has been substantially eliminated.

Having thus set forth and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patents is:

1. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a pair of rotary work spindles, chucks mounted on said spindles, loading and unloading mechanism associated with said chucks, means for stopping rotation of said spindles at a predetermined indexed position, means incorporated in said mechanism for simultaneously holding a plurality of work pieces in a predetermined indexed position relative' to one anotherv and to said chucks, and means for actuating said mechanism for simultaneously loading or unloading said work pieces into or out of said chucks.

2. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of work spindles, means for rotating said work spindles, chucking devices mounted on said spindles, means for stopping rotation of said spindles at a predetermined indexed position when loading and unloading work in said devices, loading mechanism associated with said chucks comprising a member adapted to engage and support a plurality of work pieces in a predetermined position relative to each other and to said chucking devices when loading and unloading work in said machine tool, and means for actuating said loading mechanism whereby said work pieces may be simultaneously inserted in or withdrawn from said chucking devices when stopped in said predetermined position.

3. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of work spindles, chucks mounted on said spindles, means for stopping rotation of said spindles at a predetermined indexed position, a loading device associated with said chucks having a member adapted to engage a plurality of work pieces and hold them in predetermined indexed relationship to one another and to said chucks, and means for lowering and raising said member for simultaneously inserting or withdrawing said work pieces from said chucking devices.

4. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plu-l rality of work spindles, chucks mounted on said spindles, a loading device associated with said spindles comprising, a work engaging member adapted to engage a plurality of work pieces to hold them in a predetermined relationship to one another and to said chucks, means for raising and lowering said member, and means for swinging said member to and from said work spindles when said member is in raised position.

5. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of axially spaced work spindles, chucks on said spindles, a loading device associated with vsaid spindles comprising a work engaging frame for holding a plurality of crankshafts in predetermined axially spaced relationship lto each other and to said work spindles, means for lowering and raising said frame and means for moving said frame to and from said work spindles when said frame is in raised position,

6. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of axially spaced work spindles, pot chucks mounted on said spindles, a loading device associated with said chucks comprising a member adapted to engage and carry a plurality of crankshafts in axially spaced relationship to one another and to said work spindles, means for lowering and raising said frame, and means for swinging said frame to and from said work spindles.

'7. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of axially spaced vertically arranged work spindles, chucking devices mounted on said spindles, a loading device associated with said spindles and chucks having a work supporting member adapted to hold a plurality of work pieces in a predetermined axially spacedrelationship yto each other and to said chucking devices, means for vertically moving said member for inserting said work pieces in or withdrawing them simultaneously from said chucking devices, and means for bodily moving said member to and from said work spindles.

8. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of rotatable work spindles, chucking devices mounted on said spindles, a pair of loading devices associated with said spindles, a work engaging frame associated with each loading de' vice and adapted to carry a plurality of work pieces, means for raising and lowering said frame,

and means for swinging one or the other of said members to or from said work spindles when said member is in raised position whereby one of said? device is adapted to simultaneously load a plurality of work lpieces in said chucks and wherein said other device is adapted to simultaneously remove a plurality of work pieces from said chucking devices.

9. In a multiple spindle lathe, a plurality of work spindles arranged in a plane in axially spaced relationship to one another, chucking devices mounted on said spindles, a loading device associated with said spindles having a work ening a member adapted to carry a plurality of` work pieces to be insented in or removed from said chucks, means for vertically reciprocating said member, and means for moving said member horizontally relative to said chucking devices when said member is in raised position whereby a plurality of work pieces may be simultaneously inserted in or removed from said chucking de- Vices.-

11. In .a multiple spindle machine tool, a pair of rotary work spindles, means for rotating said f' work spindles, pot chucks adapted to radial loading and unloading mounted on said spindles, a loading and unloading device associated with said chucks adapted to support a pair of Work pieces for simultaneously moving said work pieces unloading said work pieces simultaneously into or out of said chuck-ing devices.

12. In a multiple spindle lathe, a pair of rotary work spindles axially spaced in a, vertical plane, f' t pot chucks on said work spindles adapted to radial loading, a loading device comprising a horizontally swinging davit, a cable extending downward from said davit and actuated by power means associated therewith, a frame connected'fm to said cable adapted to be raised and lowered by said cable, means on said frame for engaging a plurality of work pieces to hold them in predetermined axially spaced position relative to each other, and means on said frame for manl60' radially of said chucking devices for loading and k ually eiecting raising and lowering of said cable and for manipulating said frame whereby a plurality of work pieces may be simultaneously inserted in or removed from said chucks.

13. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a pair of axially spaced, vertically arranged, rotary work spindles, chucking devices mounted on said spindles, a pair of loading devices associated with said spindles having a work carrying frame adapted to support a plurality of work pieces in axially spaced vertical position, means for raising and lowering said frame and Imeans for swinging said member to and from vsaid work spindles wherein one of said members is utilized for inserting a plurality of said work pieces simultaneously into said chucks and wherein said other loading device is utilized for removing work pieces from lsaid chucks.

14. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of rotary work spindles, chucks mounted on said spindles, a loading device comprising a davit swinging in a horizontal plane relative to said work spindles, a cable in said davit connected to a work supporting and carrying frame arranged to carry a plurality of work pieces in predetermined axially spaced vertical position, and means on said frame for effecting raising and lowering of said frame and for guiding said frame relative to said chucking devices to facilitate simultaneous loading and unloading of a plurality of work pieces into or out of said chucking devices.

15. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a pair of rotary work spindles located in a vertical plane in a predetermined axially spaced position, chucking devices adapted to radial loading mounted on said spindles, a loading device associated with said chucks comprising a member adapted to support a plurality of work pieces in a vertical plane and in the same predetermined axially spaced position as said work spindles, means for raising and lowering said member for radially inserting or removing said work pieces simultaneously into and out of said chucking devices, and means for bodily moving said member horizontally relative to said work spindles to facilitate placing and removing work pieces from said member.

16. In a multiple spindle orbital lathe, a plurality of axially spaced rotatable work spindles, chucking devices mounted on said spindles having means for engaging crankshafts to be machined by means of machined locating areas on the web and bearing portions of said crankshafts, means for rotating said work spindles, and means for stopping said spindles in a predetermined position, loading and unloading mechanism associated with said spindles and chucking devices comprising a member adapted to engage and support a plurality of crankshafts in axially spaced relationship, means for moving said member in a plane parallel with the plane o'f arrangement of said work spindles, and means for bodily moving said member perpendicularly to said mentioned plane.

17. In a multiple spindle orbital lathe, a plurality of axially spaced rotatable work spindles arranged in a plane, pot chucks associated with said work spindles adapted to radial loading and unloading, a member for supporting a plurality of crankshafts in axially spaced relationship, means for moving said member in a plane parallel to the plane of arrangement of said work spindles, to radially insert or withdraw said crankshafts simultaneously from said chucks.

18. In a multiple spindle orbital lathe, a plurality of axially spaced work spindles arranged in a plane, chucking devices associated with said spindles adapted to radial loading and having means therein for engaging and holding a crankshaft by machined locating areas on the web and bearing portions thereof, loading mechanism associated with said chucks comprising a member adapted to engage a plurality of crankshafts and to hold them in a predetermined indexed position relative to one another so as to cause them to enter said chucking devices in a predetermined position', means for moving said member in a plane parallel to the plane of arrangement of said spindles for simultaneously radially inserting or withdrawing said crankshafts from said chucks, and means for bodily moving said member, when said crankshafts are radially withdrawn from said chucks, to and from said work spindles perpendicular to said mentioned plane to facilitate placing and removing said crankshafts from said member.

19. In a multiple spindle orbital lathe a pair of vertically positioned, axially spaced work 9 spindles, pot chucks, mounted on said spindles adapted to radial loading and unloading, loading mechanism associated with said chucks comprising a crane having a swinging davit movable in a horizontal plane, a lifting cable, power means for actuating said lifting cable, and a work supporting frame adapted to carry a plurality of axially spaced vertically arranged crankshafts to be inserted or withdrawn from said chucks, and means on said frame for simultaneously actuating said cable for raising and lowering said frame and for manipulating said frame relative to said work spindles whereby a plurality of crankshafts may be simultaneously inserted in or withdrawn from said chucking devices.

20. In a multiple spindle orbital lathe a pair of axially spaced, vertically arranged, work spindles, pot chucks on said spindles adapted to engage crankshafts by means of machined locating surfaces thereon, a loading device associated with said `work spindles comprising a swinging davit movable in a horizontal plane, a lifting cable in said davit, power means for actuating said liftingA cable, a work carrying frame mounted on said cable, and means on said frame for simultaneously actuating said power means for raising and lowering said cable and frame and for manipulating said frame relative to said work spindles.

21. In a multiple spindle machine tool, a plurality of axially spaced work spindles, a loading device associated with said spindles comprising a 'member adapted to engage and carry a plurality of work pieces in axially spaced relationship to one another and to said work spindles, means for lowering and raising said frame, and means for swinging said frame from a position perpendicular to said work spindles to a position parallel with said spindles.

MANUS F. CAMPBELL. 

